War Medals, Orders and Decorations including a fine collection of Miniatures To be sold by auction at: Sotheby’s, in the Upper Grosvenor Gallery The Aeolian Hall, Bloomfield Place New Bond Street London W1 Day of Sale: Friday 12 December 2008 at 12.00 noon Public viewing: 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE Monday 8 December 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Tuesday 9 December 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Wednesday 10 December 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Thursday 11 December 10.00 am to 4.30 pm Or by previous appointment. Catalogue no. 36 Price £10 Enquiries: James Morton or Paul Wood Cover illustrations: Lot 948 (front); Lot 802 (back); ex Lot 949 (inside front cover); ex Lot 925 (inside back cover) in association with 45 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PE Tel.: +44 (0)20 7493 5344 Fax: +44 (0)20 7495 6325 Email: [email protected] Website: www.mortonandeden.com This auction is conducted by Morton & Eden Ltd. in accordance with our Conditions of Business printed at the back of this catalogue. 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Order of Sale Thursday 11 December 2008 Starting at 10.00 am and 2.00 pm Ancient, Islamic, British and World Coins Historical Medals and Banknotes see separate catalogue Friday 12 December 2008 Starting at 12.00 noon World Orders, Medals and Decorations lots 701-766 Dress Miniatures lots 766-784 Miniature British Orders, Medals and Groups lots 785-802 British Campaign Medals lots 803-913 Other Medals and Memorabilia lots 914-925 British Orders lots 926-929 Gallantry Awards lots 930-945 Orders and Medals awarded to the Hesketh Family lots 946-949 The condition of most of the items in this catalogue is described by the use of conventional numismatic terms. For an explanation of these expressions or for any further information, clients are invited to contact us directly. SESSION ONE Friday 12 December 2008 starting at 12.00 noon WORLD ORDERS, MEDALS AND DECORATIONS 701 A Group of Orders awarded to Pieter Breedveld, Controller and Cashier of the Netherlands Royal Household, Nine, comprising: (i) Austria, Order of Merit of the Republic, Silver Decoration, by Anton Reitterer of Vienna, in silver and enamels, 67 x 45.5mm, in case of issue, with warrant dated 4 May 1961; (ii) Belgium, Order of Leopold II, Knight’s breast badge, in silver, with enamelled centre, 58 x 37.5mm, with bestowal document and letter dated 17 February 1939; (iii) Denmark, Order of the Dannebrog (Christian IX issue), Second Class Knight’s breast badge, in silver and enamels, 59 x 30.5mm, centre chipped, in case of issue, with warrant dated 5 August 1954 and extract from the statutes; (iv) France, Order of the Black Star of Benin, Knight’s breast badge, by Arthus Bertrand of Paris, in silver and enamel, 60mm x 38mm, in case of issue, with warrant dated 9 February 1955; (v) Liberia, Order of the Star of Africa, Knight’s breast badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, 72 x 42mm, in case of issue, with warrant dated 10 December 1956; (vi) Luxembourg, Order of Adolph, Knight’s breast badge with Crown, by Chobillon of Paris, in silver and enamels, 47.5 x 30mm, in case of issue, with warrant dated 2 June 1930 and an extract from the statutes; (vii) Norway, Order of St. Olav, Second Class Knight’s breast badge, by Tostrup of Oslo, in silver and enamels, 63 x 44mm, in case of issue, with warrant dated 12 August 1954; (viii) Sweden, Order of Vasa, Knight’s breast badge, by Carlman of Stockholm, in silver and white enamel, with gold and red enamel centre, 60.5 x 40.5mm, in case of issue, with warrant dated 28 April 1955; (ix) Thailand, Order of the Crown, Knight’s breast badge, in silver, gilt and enamels, 55.5 x 33mm, in case of issue, with Thai warrant and English translation dated 24 October B.E. 2503 (1960), instructions for wear, and Dutch ‘Permission to Wear‘ document (9) £800-1,000 The lot also includes a warrant, bestowal document and forwarding document (dated May 1951) for Knight First Class of the House Order of Orange, forwarding document for the 1962 commemorative, warrant and forwarding letter (dated 25 March 1958) for the British Royal Victorian Order Fifth Class (M.V.O.), and a signed photograph of Sir Winston Churchill given to Pieter Breedveld in 1946. PIETER BREEDVELD graduated from Rotterdam University in 1923 having studied Administration and Economics. After a career with Unilever and with Shell he joined the Royal Household, of which he took charge when Queen Wilhelmina left for England in 1940. A German supervisor was appointed to the Royal Palace and began to select items for transportation to Germany. Working with the Resistance Breedveld successfully sabotaged many of the planned transports, thus saving an estimated 75% of the artworks, gold and silver which might otherwise have been removed. Toward the end of the War he also organised raiding parties in ships to obtain food supplies for those still working in the Royal Household. After the War he was instrumental in restructuring the administration of the Household, which he had necessarily been running on an ad hoc basis. He was also involved in organising the visits of foreign dignitaries. He died in 1968 having spent almost forty years in the service of the Crown. 702 *Afghanistan, People’s Democratic Republic, Order of the Red Banner, badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, reverse numbered (in Arabic) 323, 46 x 39mm, extremely fine £220-250 703 Afghanistan, Peoples Democratic Republic, Order of Glory, in silvered bronze and enamels, 48mm, extremely fine; together with Armed Forces Long Service Medal, in bronze, 33mm, extremely fine (2) £250-300 704 *Austria, Order of the Iron Crown, Knight’s breast badge, by Rothe of Vienna, in gold and enamels, 52.5 x 28.5mm, small chip between first and second digit of date, otherwise about extremely fine £400-600 705 Austria, Order of the Iron Crown, Knight’s breast badge with War Wreath in gilt and enamels, with crossed swords on riband, good very fine; Order of Franz Joseph, Officer’s breast badge, by Vinc. Mayer Söhne of Vienna, retaining pin marked with star, in gilt and enamels, left and upper limb chipped, very fine; Military Merit Order, Third Class breast badge, in silver and enamels; Honour Decoration of the Red Cross, Second Class breast badge with War Wreath, in silver and enamels; Marianer Cross, breast badge, in silver and enamels; Military Merit Medal, bronze medal, in bronze-gilt; Austrian War Commemorative, in bronze; Outbreak of War 1914, bronze commemorative medal, by R.